The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1887-12-21

And wizened old Peter Perkins got into
his old overcOat and went home through
the streets where the snow lay thick and
heavy until he reached his comfortable
looking three story house. After he rang
the bell he muttered to himself:
81 might just as well have only given
Mark 81 instead of Sc. He'd a'been Just
as thankful, and I'd a'saved that much.
And all those things there-why, could
have sold them at discount, but then,
after it all, WIS losing ground in church
custom by what they call my stinginess,
and now, well, guess after all I'm glad
give them. The poor who get them can't
complain. Oh, here she comes at last And
she will expect present, too! 1t seems
as II everybody was beset Christmas time!
I'm sick If it. Har'
At this instant Mrs. Warner, who was
servant and housekeeper both, opened the
door, her rather long face wreathed in
smiles and her form dressed in her best
black silk gown. Peter Perkins was as
tonished and surprised as she led the way
to the dining room, where the old mans
diuner was laid, for on the table smoked
splendid turkey, while several other
dainty and toOthsome dishes stood about,
among them noble mince pie that gave
out mellow, luscious odor that mortal
could not Withstand, and yet he turned,
saying fiercely:
''Mary Warner! Who gave You author
ity to do this' Why, here is dinner
enough for twenty, and such extrava-
Cancel ! told you this morning l didn't
believe In holiday nonsense, and told you
TO cook half "a mackerel and potato,
didn't Is''
"You did, sir, and was going to do 1t;
only this morning my sister In the coun-
try sent me Christmas box, and these
were in 1t, and as couldn't eat them all
myself made bold to offer you half, sir,
and no offcnse, hope"
"Oh, well, that alters the case. Well,
yes, ! don't care If do" and he allows
himself to fall in the chair she pushed for
ward, and he fell to and in short time
had eaten most excellent dinner, which
he finished with great golden doughnut
and piece of cheese. He took these as In
o dream, one In each hand, and made
alternate bites Of doughnut and cheese in
reflective and even retrospective man
Ter as he thoughts;
"Why don't city folks learn TO make
erullers like thisS For love nor money
you couldn't buy anything like this in all
this great city They taste just as
mother used to make them. Her. tin
cruller box was never empty and how
good they were; the older they were the
mellower and better they were. re-
member she used to make me n boy and q
mouse every time she fried crullers, and
always two P's for my letters. And
Christmas and New Years she put car
away seed candies all over mine. l Won
der how she did II. That mince pie was
good. l think will take another piece.
It hain't cost anything and 1t makes me
think Of old times"
And SO the misery old man sat and ate
until his usual bedtime came, when he lit
his candle, for he never would have gas,
and went to bed.
Scarcely had he got warm and comfort
able when he saw standing by his bedside
Q stranger whose face was carefully
turned away, and who wore a long, loose
garment Of some unknown fashion, and
lnstinctively Peter Perkins put his hand
under his pillow after his revolver, think
Ing Of robbers, but the stranger said In
low voice, which yet had such authority
In II that the wretched man dared not